Bloomquist's Utility Role Still Undefined

Getting him in the mood of opening day isn't easy. Just go ahead and ask him which of his six major league opening days was his favorite.

"Today," he said Monday in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse.

You mean this year because expectations are so high?

"Because the past's in the past," the South Kitsap grad said while waiting for a hitting meeting to begin a few hours before the Mariners' season-opening 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers. "Today's today."

We'll have to check back with Bloomquist later in the season to see how he feels.

It's possible he might be reminiscing about seasons past.

Bloomquist's role this season is yet to be defined.

Last year, Bloomquist could count on filling in when somebody needed a day off at second, shortstop or third base. He sees some time in the outfield — last year he was one of three major leaguers to play every position but catcher and pitcher — but last season you were most likely to find him in the infield.

This year, the M's have brought in Miguel Cairo, a similar player.

Last year, you could expect to see Bloomquist pinch running in close games. In the past three seasons, Bloomquist swiped 37 bases and was caught just nine times.

This year, speedy Charlton Jimerson is sitting next to Bloomquist on the bench. Jimerson stole 30 bases last season at Double-A West Tennessee (and 37 total).

"We'll see how it pans out," Bloomquist said. "Obviously, we're very versatile on our bench.

"What that means I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out."

Bloomquist is not the only player in the dark about roles on the bench. Jimerson said he'd heard "nothing" about how playing time will shake out.

Jimerson is careful not to step on Bloomquist's toes.

"I have a lot of respect for Willie, for what he's done over the years," Jimerson said. "It won't be a thing where I think I'm going to be in the game before him."

Two guys available to pinch run or swipe a bag in the late innings, "makes us more powerful," Jimerson said. "You've got a guy who can steal one in the eighth and one in the ninth. Maybe one ties us up and one puts us ahead."

Nobody on the bench played in Monday's win, but manager John McLaren has promised to use the bench prodigiously this season. Whether that's more than just spring training talk remains to be seen.

"Our guys don't like days off," McLaren told the Tacoma News Tribune at the beginning of spring training. "You appreciate guys that want to play every day. But I like to use my bench. I like to get everybody involved."

You can bet Bloomquist will be closely watching how McLaren uses his bench. Bloomquist has never made it a secret that he'd like to play more.

"What it means for me (is) I still have to be ready to do what I need to do," Bloomquist said.

Another thing undecided is Bloomquist's contract situation. He's in the final year of a two-year deal and he'll be a free agent next winter.

He's indicated he'd like to stay in Seattle, but it's possible a move to the National League could mean more time on the field.

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," he said. "I'll just go out there and play hard and do what I do everyday and everything will take care of itself."